Thomas g



T. G. DADE.

METHOD 0E MANUFACTURING WHEEL mEADs.

APPLlCATION FILED JAN. 8. 1917.

1,303,859. Patented May 20, 1919.

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THOMAS G. DADE, 0F FORT SMITH; ARKANSAS.

METHOD or MANUFACTUBI'NG WHEEL-Tulips.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Bel it known that I, THOMASl G. Danna citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Smith, in the county of Sebastian and State ofArkansas, have invented certain new anduseful lmprovements in Methods ofManufacturing Wheel-Treads; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and

exact description ofthe invention,such as will enable'others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, whichl` form a part of this specification'.

My invention relates to a method of ,manufacturing wheel treads, andmore par` ticularly to wheels for useon trucks adapted for operation onconcrete or wood floor docks, warehouses, or the like; the vprincipalobject of the invention being to provide a tread for wheels of thischaracter which is more durableL than the ordinary pneumatic or solidrubber tire, is less noisy than a metal tire, and less liable to destroyor crush a concrete door or chip the edges of a board door.

`More particularly the invention relates to the use in a wheel tread ofa plurality of separate wooden blocks so. cut and shaped that whenassembled and nished they form a ring that may be applied to a wheel rimto form a tread for the wheel; the particularly novel feature consistingof the assemblage of the separate blocks, their treatment prior toapplication to the wheel rim, and the .methody of attaching the blocksto the rim.'

As illustrative of the invention il accompany the description withdrawings of the tread in its various stages, and wherein:l

Figure l is an elevation of assembled blocks as theyV appear prior tothe application of the clamping device.

Tiiig. ll is an elevation of the blocks and their clamp, showing theblocks brought into close relation.

Fig., EH is an elevation of a wheel equipped with a tread manufacturedby my improved method.

Fig. F7 is a crosssection of the wheel.

Specification of Letters Patent. 4 Patented May, igig, application meeJamiarye, 1917. se'rial no. 141,309.

Fig.l v is' a Similar view of a modified formf-o'fwheel, comprising akeeper ring at each iside of the tread.

v Fig. VI is a cross-section on the line VI- Vl, 'F ig. V.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: 1 designates blocks of anysuitable hard wood, preferably having a regular grain, and with theblocks cut wedge-shape and with the grain, so that'the grain runslongitudinally of the blocks and, therefore, radially with the' wheelupon which the blocks are mounted when the tread is formed. -The blocksare also formed with outer tread surfaces 2 and inner rim surfaces 3shaped concentrically, so that when the blocks for a tread are assembledon a wheel the inner .tread surface may bear closely against the Wheelrim and the outer surface may form' the circular bearing surface of thewheel tread.

in cutting the blocks l preferably use a die, vor the like, and effectthe cutting with a chisel, or such suitable tool that the meeting facesof the blocks may be perfectly plain, in order that when the blocks are`as'` sembled in the tread ring they may lit snugly together and form aclose, compact tread.

4The outer ends of the blocks are alsoshaped to the desired-curvature togive the tread its outer periphery, but the inner ends and side faces ofthe blocks have eXtra stock, which is turned down in a lathe when theblocks are assembled in their clamp ring as presently described.

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As the grain runs longitudinally of the I blocks and the blocks arewedge-shape, it .is apparent that there will be short grain sections atthe outer corners o-f the blocks which might 'weaken the structurebecause of the tendency of the blocks to chip along the short grain. lnorder to `obviate this disadvantage l so shape the blocks that theirinner ends are smaller than would be required to form perfect segments,and thereby provide for spaces 4 between the blocks when the latter arecollected or assembled loosely and before they are clamped to form thecompactv tread ring. Each of the blocksl is also provided with Yatransverse aperture v 5 through which a bolt may be projected lflange ofa wheel body. l

Blocks so shaped are assembled to form a yloose ring (Fig. i), andwhenso assembled,

with their outer corners in contact, a clamp band 7 is placed thereoverto inclose the ring. The hand 7 preferably consists of a' single pieceof resilient strap metal havveo ' bevel.

fof the tread ring.

ing outturned .ends rforming ears 8 that lie closely adjacent and faceeach other to receive a'bolt 9 having ahead l0 engaging the outerl faceof onev ofthe ears and a nut 11 engaging the outer face of the other'ear, l

so that-when the nut is tightened on the bolt the 'ears are drawntogether and the band tightened against the outer lperiphery In order to'form a close fit between the y i band and the periphery of the treadring so that an even pressure is exerted on all of the blocks, Ipreferably locate ller members 12 between the band and ring before theclamp is tightened. 'When the ring is in placel and tightened asdescribed 'the blocks are lbrought into close relation and the outerportions of the blocks pressed to a greater degree than the innerportions in order to fully compressthe short grain sec-y tions and forma rigid and substantial joint v at such points that will obviate anychipi ping or deformation of the blocks when the tread is inuse.

When the clamp is fully tightened and the blocks brought into theirclose compact relation the ring with the clamp thereon is placed in alathe and turned down on its inner periphery to the proper diameter andon itsv side faces to the proper width and The blocks, still retained inthe clamp'ring, are then placed lin a treatment apparatus, whereinw-ater-proofingfluid is forced under pressure into the fiber of the woodto thoroughly saturate the blocks and render them ywater-proof.

After the ring has been so treated it is applied to a wheel rim, oneform of which is illustrated .in the drawings and comprises the rim base14 that is carried on the spokes 15 from a hub 16 and has an integralfiangc 17 at one edge provided with apertures18 through which bolts 19ymay be extended. The rim also comprises a loose ring 20l which isadapted to t snugly over the rim base 14:y against the tread ring whenthe latter is in place.

. With a wheel of this construction, having its rim base 14 of adiameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the tread ring, the

ring may be slipped over the rim base and abut against the side ange 17.When the tread ring is in place` on the rim the loose ring 20 is placedover the rim base and againstA the tread ring and the bolts 19 pla onethrough each of the ring blocks so that the blocks are held individuallyto the wheel.

After the tread ring has been securely attached to the wheel rim in thismanner and the clamp band is removed', it is apparent that a wheel ofthis construction will have desirable lasting qualities,` as the wearwill be on the end of the grain in the blocks; that it will be'noiseless in use `on a concrete or other ioor, and that it will haveresiliency under load without compression that would tend to increasethe draft in the manner incident to rubber tires.

When using the tread with a wheel coin-4 prising a keeper ring for eachside ofthe tread, i provide the blocks and rings with transverse grooves22 at their inner peripheries and attach the rings and tread to theWheel rings by bolts 23, having heads 24 engaging the rings and wheelrim at one eide ef the wheel and nuts 24C engaging the ring and rim atthe other side of the wheel to hold the tread in place..

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new therein anddesire tol secure by Letters-Patent, is y 1. lhe method of manufacturingwheel treads, consistingv of combining individual blocks to form a ring7clamping the blocks yfrom their outer periphery to compress the sameagainst each other, and attaching-the blocks individually to a wheelrim.

2. "The method of manufacturing wheel treads, consisting of combiningindividual blocks to form a ring, ,clamping the blocks from their outerperiphery to compress the KVVsaine against each other, attaching theblocks individually to a wheel rim and removing the clamp.

3. .The method of manufacturing wheel treads, consisting of assemblingindividual blocks to form a ring, clamping the ring from the exterior toycompress the blocks radially and circumfercntially, attaching thelblocks individually to a wheel rim while retained in their clamp, andremoving the clamp.

t. The method of manufacturing a Wheel tread consisting of cuttinindividual blocks to a wedge-shape and forming concentric outer andinner peripheries thereon with the inner ends of the blocks incut toform` spaces between adjacent blocks when the latter are assembled withthe outer edges thereof in contact, applying a circular clamp to theouter peripheries of the blocks to compress the outer portions thereofand closethe openings between the inner ends thereof, applying the ringso formed to a wheel rim, attaching the blocks individually to 'saidrim, and removing the clamp.

5. The method of manufacturing wheel treads consisting of assemblingindividual blocks to form a ring, clamping the ring from the exterior tocompress the blocks,

mesme shaping the blocks whilea'ssembied in the turning the ring in a'lathe to shape the v ring, applying the ring to a Wheel rim and sidesand inner surfaces of the blocks, atremoving the clamp. f v tachingthe'blocks individually to a Wheel 10 6. The method of manufacturing'Wheel rim While retained in the clamp and removltreads consisting ofassembling individual ing the clamp.A

blocks to form a ring, clamping the lring In testimony whereof aX mysignature. from the exterior to compress the blocks, TH'MAS G. DADE.

